President-elect Donald Trump has selected Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., as his national security adviser, according to four sources familiar with the decision.
Waltz is a Green Beret veteran who has served in Afghanistan, the Middle East and Africa. Since 2019, he has represented a congressional district in the House of Representatives, where he serves on the Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, and Intelligence committees.
The Wall Street Journal first reported on Trump’s choice.
Waltz’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Waltz is a particularly hawkish member of Congress when it comes to China. He serves on the House of Representatives’ China Task Force and has argued that the US is ill-prepared if conflict erupts in the region.
Like many Republicans in Congress, Waltz has also criticized U.S. aid to Ukraine in its war against Russia. In an interview with NPR on November 4, he said the US had “power” to bring Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table to negotiate a “diplomatic resolution” to end the war.
The role of White House national security adviser does not require Senate confirmation.
Waltz joins Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York as the second House Republican whom Trump has tapped for posts in his new administration. He chose Stefanik as US ambassador to the United Nations.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
